Clemson, South Carolina football finish in USA Today top 10

Jadeveon Clowney had 13 sacks for South Carolina, which finished in the top 10 of both major polls for its highest finish in both in school history.

TRAVIS BELL/Sideline Carolina

From staff reports

Published: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 12:26 a.m.

The South Carolina and Clemson football teams both finished in the top 10 of the USA Today Top 25 poll released on Tuesday morning after the completion of the BCS Championship game.

South Carolina was seventh and Clemson ninth. Clemson's ranking marked the first time the Tigers (11-2) placed in the top 10 of a football poll since 1990.

The Gamecocks (11-2) were eighth in the final Associated Press poll, while the Tigers were 11th. South Carolina's rankings were the highest in program history, beating last year's placements in both polls by one spot.

Also, USC defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was selected as college football's All-America Player of the Year presented by AT&T. The award is decided solely by a fan vote.

The 6-foot-6, 256-pound sophomore from Rock Hill finished the season with 54 tackles, including 40 solo stops and a school-record 13 sacks. Last year's recipient of the award was Baylor Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.

<p>The South Carolina and Clemson football teams both finished in the top 10 of the USA Today Top 25 poll released on Tuesday morning after the completion of the BCS Championship game. </p><p>South Carolina was seventh and Clemson ninth. Clemson's ranking marked the first time the Tigers (11-2) placed in the top 10 of a football poll since 1990.</p><p>The Gamecocks (11-2) were eighth in the final Associated Press poll, while the Tigers were 11th. South Carolina's rankings were the highest in program history, beating last year's placements in both polls by one spot.</p><p>Also, USC defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was selected as college football's All-America Player of the Year presented by AT&T. The award is decided solely by a fan vote.</p><p>The 6-foot-6, 256-pound sophomore from Rock Hill finished the season with 54 tackles, including 40 solo stops and a school-record 13 sacks. Last year's recipient of the award was Baylor Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.</p>